EU offers its own minerals deal to Ukraine

The European Union proposed an agreement with Ukraine Monday on "critical materials", a top official said, promising a "win-win" deal even as US President Donald Trump seeks his own deal on accessing Kyiv's minerals, Report informs via AFP.

Ukraine's wealth of minerals including manganese, titanium, graphite and lithium has been the target of tense negotiations between Kyiv and Washington, with Trump insisting the US deserves its "money back" for helping defend Ukraine against Russia's invasion.

The European Commissioner for Industrial Strategy, Stephane Sejourne, said he had suggested a different potential deal to Ukrainian officials during a visit to Kyiv with EU chief Ursula von der Leyen.

"Twenty-one of the 30 critical materials Europe needs can be provided by Ukraine in a win-win partnership," Sejourne said after the meeting, which came on the third anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion.

"The added value Europe offers is that we will never demand a deal that's not mutually beneficial," he added.